Ivan Petrella

Marcella Althaus-Reid

Luiz Carlos Susin

Resulting from the first World Forum on liberation theology that took place in 2005 in Brazil, this book includes discussions of the themes of liberation, ecumenical differences, inter-religious commitments and historical and interdisciplinary methodologies from the perspective of the global poor.

Another Possible World

Liberation theology was the most important theological movement of the 20th century. Its influence shook the Third and First world. Born from an epistemological break from the whole of the Western theological tradition, liberation theology was not one theological school among others in the canon. Instead, it sought a new understanding of theology itself. The basis of that new understanding was the attempt to do theology from the perspective of the poor majority of humankind. Liberation theology - whether Latin American, U.S. Black, African, Feminist - realized that theology had traditionally been done from the standpoint of privilege. Western theology was the product of a minority of humankind living in a state of affluent exception; poverty was the norm for the majority of the world's population. By grounding itself in the perspective of the poor, liberation theology came as close as possible to being the first truly global theology. This series recovers the heart and soul of liberation theology by focusing on authors that ground their work in the perspective of the majority of the world's poor. "Another Possible World" is the book resulting from the first World Forum on liberation theology that took place in 2005 in Brazil. This international gathering discussed themes of liberation, ecumenical differences, inter-religious commitments and historical and interdisciplinary methodologies from the perspective of the global poor. The resulting chapters come from an internationally acclaimed group of contributors. This collection brings the current debates within liberation theologies right up to date and allows readers to acquaint themselves with key thinkers on the most relevant topics within this discipline.

There is a notion amongst some academics that Latin American Liberation Theology has had its day, a dream killed off by the Nicaraguan and Salvadoran revolutions, the 1989 demise of socialism and the "end of history" claims of the champions of capitalism. However in this book Petrella proves this to be an ill-conceived notion, and shows that this theology can be reinvented to bring its preferential option for the poor into the real world. The actualisation of historical projects is possible by adopting the methods developed by the Brazilian champion of critical legal studies, Robert Unger. Doing so will entail the rejection of these theologians' unitary concepts of a despised and rejected capitalism and a canonized and accepted socialism. Petrella argues for a reconstruction of these concepts and those of democracy and property too. He closely analyses the differences in democracy and capitalism as practised across the USA and Europe in support for the reconstruction of these concepts bringing about far-reaching suggestions for the future of liberation theology.

An Argument and Manifesto

Future of Liberation Theology

Liberation theologies are the most important theological movement of our time. In the 20th century, their influence shook the Third and First Worlds, grass root organizations and the affluent Western academy, as well as the lives of priests and laypeople persecuted and murdered for living out their understanding of the Christian message. In the 21st C their insights and goals remain – unfortunately – as valid as ever.

Ivan Petrella

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